The housing association responsible for the estate where Awaab Ishak lived has announced the appointment of an interim chief executive. It follows the two-year-old's inquest last month, which concluded that he died in December 2020 following prolonged exposure to mould, leading to fatal breathing difficulties.
The news sent shockwaves around the country, while a Manchester Evening News investigation in the summer revealed that other tenants had been living in similar conditions with damp and mould on the same estate , including families with children who suffered breathing issues. The M.E.N. 's campaign for Awaab's Law has since received support from MPs including the housing secretary, Michael Gove.
In the aftermath of Awaab's inquest, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) stood by its then-chief executive, Gareth Swarbrick. But amid growing pressure from politicians including Mr Gove, and calls from Awaab's family for 'accountability', Mr Swarbrick was eventually ousted by the RBH board - four days on from the inquest's conclusion.
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Now, the board has confirmed the appointment of Yvonne Arrowsmith as interim chief executive from Monday, December 12. Ms Arrowsmith has worked in the social housing sector for the past 30 years in a number of roles, and previously worked as a nurse.
She said: "This is a difficult time to be joining RBH, following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak. His death and the coroner’s verdict into it have rightly shocked the social housing sector.
"I strongly believe that everyone has the right to live in a home that is safe and secure. So, although a difficult time, I am looking forward to working with the Board, Representative Body and employees to prioritise the safety and security of people living in our homes, to make sure that action is taken where it is needed, and to begin the process of earning the trust and confidence of our residents.”
Ms Arrowsmith is listed as a member of the group board at One Housing, a housing association based in London and the south east. Her previous roles are listed as chief executive officer of East Thames Housing and Saffron Housing Trust, group director of operations for Family Mosaic, and group supported housing director.
In a joint statement welcoming Ms Arrowsmith's appointment, RBH board chair Alison Tumilty and representative body chair Phill Worthington said: "We want to start by saying again how sorry we are for the loss of Awaab. We know our words will not take away the pain felt by his family, nor will they heal the hurt being felt here in Rochdale as well as across the country.
"We want to let you know that we have appointed Yvonne Arrowsmith as our new interim chief executive to lead our organisation and to make sure that we put in place the changes we need to make." The statement continues: "Yvonne has a track record of joining organisations as an interim chief executive and helping them to improve and succeed - we are really pleased to be able to bring in someone with her experience and skills to lead RBH.
"Yvonne starts with us on Monday, December 12, and we are looking forward to working with her to make sure that we deliver the quality of homes and services that our tenants deserve and expect." A statement on behalf of Awaab's family last week called for the RBH board to resign, after it had initially given Mr Swarbrick its support.
The statement said: " They call for the board’s resignation and believe that, while the current board remains, there is an ever-present risk and danger to RBH tenants. The family are struggling to grapple with the fact that, while grieving the loss of their child, RBH were expressing confidence in their CEO.
"They also cannot understand why it took so long for RBH to, in any way, acknowledge that it was wrong for them to have made 'assumptions' about the lifestyle of Mr Abdullah and Ms Amin - particularly given the Coroner’s findings. RBH have immediate and urgent issues that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of their tenants."
The family also urged people to get behind the campaign for Awaab's Law, with our petition now having more than 137,000 signatures. Last week, Mr Gove said: "I have to praise the Manchester Evening News for shining a light on the condition of people who are living in homes that are not fit for human habitation.
"It's been campaigning journalism by a great newspaper and Awaab's Law has attracted, thanks to your championing and thanks to Awaab's legal team, the support of tens of thousands of people. I've asked my team to look now at the specific recommendations of Awaab's Law to see if we can bring it into force as soon as possible."
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